Despite the rain outside, the Owens Art Center was buzzing with energy from students and film fanatics.

Nervous crews and anxious students were eager to see what was in store for the night, as the SMU Student Filmmakers Association hosted its film festival.

Elizabeth Johnston, a senior and vice president of exhibition for SFA said, “I’m really excited about this film festival. We have some really interesting pieces put together to show a variety of different outlets.” 

The festival featured a variety of narrative shorts, Claymation, music videos and several other genres.

“I worked on multiple pieces, I’m in the credits. We have a lot of films we plan to submit to (outside) festivals,” She said.

SFA member senior Charlie Bush said, “I’m pretty excited. It’s been in limbo since summer, but me and another guy got together and powered through it.

He said, “I’m very excited to have it seen,” about his film submission ‘There are Good Men’.”

Second year SFA and submitter of “Crimson Rain” Jonathan Lester said, “I just hope to show my good ones. I highly recommend SFA even if you’re not majoring in film.” He said his film was “very visually appealing.”

But, the buzz of the evening was centered around on the film, “Lucid.”  It had been cited by other SFA members that worked on it and students were intrigued by the film. 

According to SFA sophomore Jerra Haimes “Lucid” has been shown in previous festivals.  “Lucid” is about a tortured man fed up with his life and suffering from insomnia.  She said he takes a job as a test subject for lucid-dream therapy. 

Brad Mitchell, sophomore cinema and television major, said, “I enjoyed the festival; it had a great mix.  “Lucid” stuck out to me; not really my taste, but was interesting.” 

Mitchell said he would recommend SFA Film Festivals to his friends.

Johnston said, “The organization is a lot of fun.  The only way to get ahead in this business is to have film experience, and because of SFA I have that experience.”

She said the members are just as diverse as the film selection.

James Lentzsch, SFA member and senior said, “I actually didn’t know it was playing tonight. I’m very excited about it. Watch as many movies as you can, especially student films; you never know who’s the next Spielberg.  Student films often get this stigma, but there is really a lot of fun works out there.”